Summary

Attorney Paul Madriani defends a soldier on trial for murder and unwittingly steps into a maze of secrets and lies that the government -- and even his client -- would rather leave undisturbed.Madriani is faced with arcane ballistics evidence, a so-called "double tap" -- two bullet wounds tightly grouped to a victim's head, shots that can only be made by a crack marksman. Madriani's client is an enigma, a career soldier who refuses to talk about his past. The victim was an alluring businesswoman and software tycoon whose empire catered to the military. The case's most damning evidence is the weapon that killed her: a handgun used only in special operations where the "double tap" is the trademark of the most skilled assassins.Madriani faces a wilderness of mirrors in a courtroom battle where every witness can hide behind "national security," where information is power and digital information is absolute power. It is a war in which the scales of justice are being tipped by evasion, deceit -- and murder. Finding the unvarnished truth has never been so elusive -- or so dangerous.

Summary

Attorney Paul Madriani defends a soldier on trial for murder and unwittingly steps into a maze of secrets and lies that the government and even his client would rather leave undisturbed.

Author Notes

Bestselling author Steve Martini was born on February 28, 1946 in San Francisco, California. He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz and received a law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law.

Martini worked as a newspaper reporter and political correspondent. As a lawyer, he represented clients in civil and criminal cases, was the Deputy Director of the State Office of Administrative Hearings, worked as an administrative judge, and worked with the California Victims of Violent Crimes program.

Martini mined his past experiences to produce such legal thrillers as "Compelling Evidence," "Prime Witness" and "Undue Influence." He is the author of the Paul Madriani series of books. His title, The Enemy Inside made The New York Times Best Seller List in 2015.

Publisher's Weekly Review

In veteran Martini's exciting eighth legal thriller starring Paul Madriani (after 2003's The Arraignment), the San Diego defense attorney takes on yet another especially difficult case. When Madelyn Chapman, the owner of a computer software company that sells a controversial security program to the U.S. government, is found shot twice in the head in her La Jolla home, the closeness of the bullet wounds indicates a "double tap," a feat typical of a highly skilled military marksman. Army Sgt. Emiliano Ruiz, a 20-year vet who served in Panama and the first Gulf War and who freelanced as a security guard (and occasional sex partner) for Chapman, is arrested for the killing. After the flashy defense lawyer originally in charge of the case quits, apparently under pressure, the more compassionate and less publicity-minded Madriani and his partner take it on. Ruiz turns out to have a seven-year gap in his resume: was he in fact doing dirty work for Special Ops? And can Madriani find out his secrets in time to keep the sympathetic soldier from life in prison? The compelling plot builds to a conclusion that should surprise even longtime fans. Agent, Esther Newberg at ICM. BOMC main selection; Doubleday, Literary Guild and Mystery Guild alternates. (July 26) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Booklist Review

The double tap of the title refers both to ballistics evidence--two shots, only an inch apart, to the victim's head--and to the way wars have of reaching out to veterans, spattering past trauma into the present. Martini's latest legal thriller starring California defense attorney Paul Madriani weaves the theme of the past infiltrating the present throughout a daunting case. The body of an extremely wealthy businesswoman, CEO of a corporation specializing in defense, is found with two tightly grouped bullet wounds to the head, suggesting the work of an expert marksman. Enter the most likely suspect: a career soldier who was on the victim's security detail and with whom she was having an affair. As Madriani attempts to defend the uncooperative soldier, he discovers that the victim's company was involved in a potentially devastating antiterrorist program. The plot progresses in a satisfyingly logical way, from first interview with the suspect through legal machinations and on to a tense, utterly believable courtroom battle. Plot and legal knowledge are Martini's strength. Dialogue, however, is his weakness. Characters continually deliver off-the-cuff, incredibly detailed descriptions of scenes that seem much more writerly than conversational. And Martini is often guilty of overdescription--three pages of the businesswoman handing her keys to a valet parking attendant. Still, in this case, the plot carries the prose. --Connie Fletcher Copyright 2005 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Martini stalwart Paul Madriani is facing a big challenge: a "double tap," that is, a pair of close bullet holes that can only be delivered by experienced marksmen. Unfortunately, the double tap that killed a chic businesswoman who ran a high-tech company is said to come from Madriani's latest client, who's mum about his past. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Excerpts

"Attorney Paul Madriani defends a highly decorated soldier who is on trial for murder, and unwittingly steps into a maze of secrets and lies that the government - and even this client - would rather leave hidden and undisturbed." "Madriani is faced with arcane ballistics evidence, the so-called double tap - two bullet wounds tightly grouped to a victim's head, from shots that can have been made only by a crack marksman. Madriani's client is an enigma, a career soldier who refuses to talk about his past, though clearly he is a battle-tested pro. The victim was an alluring businesswoman and software tycoon whose empire catered to the military, and the most damning evidence is the weapon that killed her: a handgun used solely in special operations where the double tap is the trademark of the most skilled assassins." "Madriani begins to have new fears about his client, a man who would rather sit on a legal time bomb than talk about his past and get a chance at acquittal. And yet more troubling, Madriani discovers that the victim was involved in a controversial government contract to combat terrorism by combing through the private computer records of millions of American citizens." "Madriani faces a wilderness of mirrors in a courtroom battle where every witness can hide behind "national security," where information is power and digital information is absolute power. It is a war in which the scales of justice are being tipped by evasion, deceit - and murder. Finding the unvarnished truth has never been so elusive - or so dangerous."--BOOK JACKET.

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